Lakers News: Former Los Angeles Champion Struggling Financially In Retirement

Or so he claims.

Retired forward Trevor Ariza, who won a title with your 2009 Los Angeles Lakers and spent his final NBA season in 2021-22 with LA again, has apparently hit a bit of a rough patch in his post-league life.

Per Ryan Naumann of Radar Online, Ariza has claimed in recent court documents that he's not currently drawing any monthly income, aside from $4,000 from rental properties, and hopes to reduce his child support payments to estranged wife Bree Anderson. The couple, in the midst of an apparently contentious divorce, share two children. As Naumann notes, the 6'8" combo forward netted a total of $116 million in career earnings, across 18 pro seasons.

Ariza also earned a one-time $418K lump sum from the league upon retiring.

“I am in the process of reducing my monthly expenses as I am now unemployed and cannot maintain my former lifestyle,” Ariza noted in his court statement.

Anderson filed -- and was granted -- a restraining order against Ariza after she alleged he showed up, unannounced, at her residence. She also accused him of being abusive during their marriage, charges he denied and turned back at her. A judge nevertheless granted Anderson a 100-yard restraining order against Ariza.

It's disappointing to see Ariza embroiled in this dispute, and certainly if Anderson's claims are true it's gross and depressing that he engaged in this kind of behavior away from the hardwood.

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